Life Sucks said:
Which death metal bands are you talking about making it as big as Pantera? I dont think a true death/black metal/grindcore band will ever make it as mainstream as Metallica or Slipknot. Firstly, because their aesthetic is too harsh and ugly for mainstream standards so its not digestible at all. The only chance is to break mainstream is when they make it sound as accessible as In Flames. Or Cradle of Filth softening up the black metal sound and marketing the gothy image. Secondly, black metal is way too contraversial because it has connections with Nazism and White Power groups. Pantera, Slipknot and early Metallica made it big even with their hard sound, because its still relatively simple and catchy. I think the bottom line is that the masses see music through just image (and anything else for a matter of fact) and they do not really take it as seriously as the average metalhead. They buy into it because it's "ooh, buying their albums will make me seem more dark and angry" or simply just for novelty. I mean just look at the current emo trend now. It is somewhat hip to be an outsider which can explain why some metal made it big.
By the way, I dont like the term extreme metal. Makes me feel like I'm getting a sports drink product.
